“Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” ~Psalm 103:1-2

The storm gathers. I feel the winds sweeping, growing in strength and chill. The gray clouds cluster, swirling, churning, warning. It has been for a while now.

Not the first time. Won’t be t[image error]he last. You’ve been there too.

We want to name the storm. Identify the source. Sometimes, though, it’s name is simply life. It rises and falls, there are days of sunshine and days of rain. It is appointed to be so.

So, in the midst of the descending darkness, when the sun hides its warmth and light, what do we do?

I am reminded that it was in the midst of the worst storms he’d even known–a real one, on the ocean–that John Newton finally bowed before God, and his life began a new, redeemed direction. And, in the darkest place of human depravity, Corrie and Betsy ten Boom found the hungriest souls with whom to share the good news of Christ. And the disciples… in the midst of wind and waves, they fell to their knees in a fresh level of awe.

Light breaks through the darkness. Purpose birthed into the storm. That is the power of the Redeemer, the awe and beauty of redemption.

So, come. Blow, winds. Toss, waves. Rumble, thunder. We for light to break through.

Because in the end, darkness will not defeat Light.